Vapor-removing devices



Aug. 16, 1966 Filed June 8, 1964 FIG.|. 62

M. N. CRANDALL VAPOR'REMOVING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 60 FIG. 2.

as 0 98 mo 94 92 90 78 FIG. 6

Aug. 16, 1966 N. CRANDALL 3,266,474

VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICES Filed June 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8.

United States Patent 3,266,474 VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICES Morris N.Crandall, 8177 Stratford, Clayton, Mo. Filed June 8, 1964, Ser. No.373,415 14 Claims. (Cl. 123-119) This invention relates to improvementsin vapor-removing devices. More particularly, this invention relates toimprovements in a device which can remove undesirable hydrocarbon vaporsfrom the air which passes through the crankcase and valve-operating areaof an internal combustion engine.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a devicewhich can remove undesirable hydrocarbon vapors from the air whichpasses through the crankcase and valve-operating area of an internalcombustion engine.

In the operation of internal combustion engines, small quantities of theproducts of -com'bustionreferred to as blow-byslip past the piston ringsand enter the crankcases of those engines. The air Within the'crankcases and the valve-operating areas of those engines tend toentrain the hydrocarbon vapors from the blow-by and from the lubricatingoil within those crankcases and those valveoperating areas. For manyyears, the air and its entrained hydrocarbon vapors were permitted tovent freely through the breather pipes and oil-filling caps of internalcombustion engines; but progressively greater efforts have recently beenmade, and are now being made, to prohibit the escape of such air andentrained hydrocarbon vapors from the crankcases and valve-operatingareas of internal combustion engines.

In their efforts to keep air and entrained hydrocarbon vapors fromescaping from the crankcases and valveoperating areas of internalcombustion engines, some manufacturers of internal combustion engineshave provided connections between the valve-operating areas and theintake manifolds of their engines. Those connections include checkvalves; and those connections enable the reduced pressures in the intakemanifolds of those engines to maintain reduced pressures Within thecrankcases and valve-operating areas of those engines. Because thepressures in the crankcases and valve-operating areas of those internalcombustion engines are subatmospheric, there is no tendency for air andentrained hydrocarbon vapors to escape from those crankcases andvalve-operating areas; and, instead, the air and entrained hydrocarbonvapors mix with the fuel in the intake manifolds of those engines andpass into the cylinders of those engines.

While the connections between the valve-operating areas and intakemanifolds of internal combustion engines are helpful and useful inpreventing the escape of the air and its entrained hydrocarbon vapors,those connections are hurtful because some of the hydro-carbon vaporsentrained by the air form objectionable deposits on the intake valves ofthe engine. Also, some of those hydrocarbon vapors form objectionabledeposits in the check valves of those connections. As a result, after anengine has been operated for a time, the intake valves of that enginecan tend to stick in their open positions, and the check valve in theconnection between the valve-operating area and the intake manifold cantend to stick in its closed position. Both of these results areobjectionable. It would be desirable to provide a device that wouldsubstantially remove undesirable hydrocarbon vapors, which enter theconnection between the valve-operating area and intake manifold of aninternal combustion engine, before those hydrocarbon vapors could reachthe valve in that connection; because such a device could keep thosehydrocarbon vapors from interfering with proper operation of that valveand of the intake valves. The present invenice tion provides such adevice; and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention toprovide a vapor-removing device in the connection between thevalve-operating area and intake manifold of an internal combustionengine which can substantially remove undesirable hydrocarbon vapors,which enter that connection, before those hydrocarbon vapors can reachthe valve in that connection.

The vapor-removing device provided by the present invention is mountedin heat-exchanging relation with the exhaust manifold of the engine, andwill thus be at an elevated temperature whenever that exhaust manifoldis at its normal operating temperature. The elevated temperature of thevapor-removing device will be high enough to enable the undesirablehydrocarbon vapors which enter that vapor-removing device to experiencedestructive distillation; and that destructive distillation will createa cokelike residue plus volatile fractions. The coke-like residue willtend to come to rest within the vapor-removing device, and thus be keptfrom passing to the valve in the connection between the valve area andthe intake manifold of the engine. As a result, that coke-like residuewill be kept from interfering with the proper operation of that valveand the intake valves. The volatile fractions will pass freely throughthe valve in the connection and past the intake valves and enter thecylinders of the engine. Those volatile fractions will be readilycombustible; and they will serve as added fuel for the engine. Theoverall result is that the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors will beconverted to a coke-like residue, which will be kept from reaching thevalve or the engine, and to volatile fractions which will serve as addedfuel for the engine. It is, therefore, an object of the presentinvention to provide a vapor-removing device, which is mounted inheatexchanging relation with the exhaust manifold of an entgine, andwhich will subject the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors introduced into itto destructive distlllationso those vapors will form a coke-likeresidue, which will remain in that vapor-removing device, and will formvolatile fractions, which will serve as added fuel for the engine.

The vapor-removing device provided by the present invention will forcethe undesirable hydrocarbon vapors, that are introduced into it, torecurrently change direction. As those undesirable hydrocarbon vaporsrecurrently change direction, they will be progressively heated; andwill thus be given a full opportunity to experience destructivedistillation and to deposit the resulting cokelike residue on the innersurfaces of that vapor-removing device. It is therefore, an object ofthe present invention to provide a vapor-removing device which hasbaflle surfaces therein that recurrently force the undesirablehydroca-rbon vapors introduced into that device to recurrently changedirection.

When an internal combustion engine is started, the temperature of theexhaust manifold will be Well below the normal operating temperature ofthat exhaust manifold. Consequently, the temperature of thevapor-removing device, which is in heat-exchanging relation with thatexhaust manifold, also will be well below its normal operatingtemperature. This means that, during the start ing of an internalcombustion engine, heat from the exhaust manifold cannot be relied uponto foster the desired destructive distillation of the undesirablehydrocarbon vapors introduced into the vapor-removing device. Yet, itwould be desirable to foster the destructive distillation of allundesirable hydrocarbon vapors introduced into the vapor-removing deviceduring the starting of the internal combustion engine. One preferredembodiment of the vapor-removing device provided by the presentinvention does foster destructive distillation of the undesirablehydrocarbon vapors introduced into it, during the starting of theengine; and it does so by having therein a catalyst which fosters thedestructive distillation of undesirable hydrocarbon vapors. Thatcatalyst will continue, and with even greater effectiveness, to fosterthe destructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors after the vapor-reimoving device reaches its normal operating temperature. It is,therefore, an object of the present invention to provide avapor-removing device with a catalyst which will foster destructivedistillation of undesirable hydrocarbon vapors introduced into thatvapor-removing device during the starting and running of the engine.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention shouldbecome apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanyingdescription.

In the drawing and accompanying description three preferred embodimentsof the present invention are shown and described but it is to beunderstood that the drawing and accompanying description are for thepurpose of illustration and do not limit the invention and that theinvention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an internalcombustion engine with which one preferred form of vapor-removing deviceprovided by the present invention is used,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section, on a larger scale, through thevapor-removing device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the vapor-removing device of FIG. 2,and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, on a smaller scale, of one of the bafllesused in the vapor-removing device of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a vertical section through another form of vapor-removingdevice that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings ofthe present invention,

FIG. 6 is a sectional View through the device of FIG. 5, and is takenalong the plane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through another vapor-removing device of thepresent invention, and

FIG. 8 is an end view of the catalyst used in the vaporremoving deviceof FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 in detail, the numeral 10 generally denotes aninternal combustion engine which has a valve cover 12, an intakemanifold 14, a carburetor 16, an air cleaner 18, and an exhaust manifold20. That internal combustion engine 10 and its components are showndiagrammatically in FIG. 1; because that internal combustion engine andits components are not, per se, parts of the present invention. Thatinternal combustion engine and its components also are showndiagrammatically in FIG. 1 because the vapor-removing devices of thepresent invention are applicable to all kinds of internal combustionengines which have intake manifolds and exhaust manifolds.

The numeral 21 denotes threaded openings in the exhaust manifold 20.Where the vapor-removing device of the present invention is mounted onthe engine during the manufacture of that engine, the threaded openings21 will be formed in the exhaust manifold 20 prior to the assembling ofthat exhaust manifold wtih the engine. However, where the vapor-removingdevice of the present invention is subsequently mounted on the engine,the installer will drill openings in the exhaust manifold 20 and thentap those openings. The numeral 22 denotes a heatexchanging block whichhas a surface 24 that is complementary to a portion of the outer surfaceof the exhaust manifold 20. Passages 26, which have enlarged-diameterouter ends, are formed in the block 22; and those passages can be set inregister with the threaded openings 21 in the exhaust manifold 20.Threaded sockets 28 also are formed in the heat-exchanging block 22. Capscrews 30 extend through the passages 26 and have the heads thereofseated in the enlarged-diameter outer ends of those passages. The shanksof those cap screws extend into the threaded openings 21 in the exhaustmanifold 20 and serve to hold the heat-exchanging block 22 solidly inengagement with the exhaust manifold 20. The engagement between theexhaust manifold 20 and the complementary surface 24 of theheatexchanging block 22 should be very intimate to foster efiicienttransfer of heat from that exhaust manifold to that heat-exchangingblock.

The numeral 32 generally denotes the vapor-removing device shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, and that vapor-removing device has a base 34 with aflange 36 thereon. Openings are for-med in that flange; and thoseopenings are spaced apart so they can be set in register with thethreaded sockets 28 in the heat-exchanging block 22. An L-shaped passage38 is formed in the base 34 of the vapor-removing device 32; and one endof that passage extends to and communicates with the periphery of thatbase, while the other end of that L-shaped passage is located at thegeometric axis of that base and communicates with the righthand face ofthat base, as that base is viewed in FIG. 2. An annular shoulder 40 isprovided with the right-hand face of the base 34, as that base is viewedin FIG. 2; and that shoulder accommodates a sleeve 42. That sleeve willbe suitably sweated, brazed or welded to the base 34. A sleeve 44, ofinsulation, surrounds the sleeve 42; and, in the particular form ofvapor-removing device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sleeve 44 consists ofa number of layers of insulating material. An annular plate 46 issecured to the outer end of sleeve 42, and that plate serves as aretainer for the sleeve 44 of insulation.

The numeral 48 denotes a number of rings of a relatively inexpensivemetal such as iron; and those rings are so dimensioned so they cantelescope freely within the sleeve 42. The numeral 49 denotes one of anumber of bafile plates which are circular in form and which aredimensioned to telescope freely into the sleeev 42. Each of the bafileplates 49 has a number of openings 51 adjacent the periphery thereof.The numeral 53 denotes one of a number of baflle plates which areannular in form and which are dimensioned to telescope freely into thesleeve 42. The various bafile plates 49 and 53 are alternated, and theyare spaced apart by the rings 48. The numeral 50 denotes two of a numberof screens which are circular in form and which are dimensioned totelescope freely into the sleeve 42. The screens 50 are spaced apart byfurther rings 48. The bafile plates 49 and 53 will be made of arelatively inexpensive material such as iron, but the screens 50 will bemade of a material that can foster the destructive distillation ofhydrocarbon vapors. One material that is relatively inexpensive and thatis readily available in the form of screen wire is aluminum. A closure52, which has a threaded opening therein, is mounted within the outerend of the sleeve 42; and that closure will be suitably sweated, brazedor welded to that outer end.

The base 34, the sleeve 42, the sleeve 44 of insulation, the annularplate 46, the rings 48, the baffle plates 49, the baffle plates 53, thescreens 50, and the closure plate 52 will constitute a self-containedvapor-removing device which is rugged and strong and which can bereadily handled as a unit. Machine screws 54 will pass through theopenings in the flange 36 of the base 34 and seat in the threadedsockets 28 in the heat-exchanging block 22; and those machine screwswill hold the left-hand face of the base 34 in intimate engagement withthe right-hand face of the heat-exchanging block 22, as that base andthat block are viewed in FIG. 2. The heat-exchanging block 22, the base34, and the sleeve 42 are preferably formed from a metal, such as brass,which has a high coefficient of thermal conductivity. Where that isdone, the heat-exchanging block 22 will effectively absorb heat from theexhaust manifold 20 and transfer that heat to the base 34; and that basewill then transfer that heat to the sleeve 42-and the baffle plates 49and 53 and the screens 50 Z/ill absorb heat from that sleeve and alsofrom the rings While only one baffle plate 49 is shown,

and while only one bafile plate 53 is shown, the vapor-removing device32 will preferably have several baffle plates 49 and will preferablyhave several baffle plates 53. The number of bafile plates 49, thenumber of baflle plates 53, and the number of screens 50 that are usedwill be a function of the size and type of the engine and of the type offuel used by that engine. Usually, the number of screens 50 will exceedthe total number of baflle plates 49 and 53.

The screens 50 are very useful and desirable, because they areself-supporting and they do not unduly impede the flow of air and vaporsthrough the vapor-removing device 32. However, plates, porous cakes,granular materials, and the like could be substituted for the screens50. The primary requirements forthe screens 50, and any substitutestherefor, are that they be relatively inexpensive and that theycatalytically foster the destructive distillation of undesirablehydrocarbon vaporsthose hydrocarbon vapors which could form deposits on,and impair the operation of, the intake valves of the engine and thevalve in the connection between the valveoperating area and the intakemanifold of that engine.

A tubing fitting 56 has the threaded end thereof seated within thatportion of the L-shaped passage 38 which extends to and communicateswith the periphery of the base 34; and a tubing fitting 58 has thethreaded end thereof seated within the threaded opening in the closure52 of the vapor-removing device 32. A length 60 of tubing extends fromthe tubing fitting 56 to a tubing fitting 62 which is mounted in thevalve cover 12 of the internal combustion engine 10. A length 64 oftubing extends from the tubing fitting 58 to the inlet of a valve 66;and a length 68 of tubing extends from the outlet of that valve to theintake manifold 14. The valve 66 is a check valve which is biased toclosed position, but which can respond to a reduced pressure within theintake manifold 14 to open and thereby permit air and hydrocarbon vaporsto flow from the tubing fitting 58 through the length 64 of tubing andthen through the length 68 of tubing into the intake manifold 14.

In the operation of the internal combustion engine 10, a reducedpressure will be established and maintained within the intake manifold14. The valve 66 will respond to that reduced pressure to open; and,thereupon, air and hydrocarbon vapors will be drawn upwardly out of thevalve cover 12, will pass through the tubing fitting 62 and the length60 of tubing, and through the tubing fitting 56 into the vapor-removingdevice 32. All parts of that vapor-removing device will be hot, becauseof the heat which is transferred to it from the exhaust manifold by theheat-exchanging block 22, and because the sleeve 44 of insulation willminimize the radiation of heat from the sleeve 42. As the air andhydrocarbon vapors enter the sleeve 42 they will confront the solidcentral portion of the left-handmost baffle plate 49; and hence theywill have to change direction and move radially outwardly of that bafiieplate. As the air and hydrocarbon vapors move into register with theopenings 51 in that baffle plate, they will again have to changedirection and move axially of the sleeve 42. As the air and hydrocarbonvapors pass through the openings 51 in the lefthandmost baffle plate 49they will confront the solid outer .portions of the left-handmost bafileplate 53; they will again have to change direction and move radiallyinwardly of that baffle plate. As the air and hydrocarbon vapors moveinto register with the central opening in the left-handmost baflie plate53, they will have to change direction once again and move axially ofthe sleeve. The second left-handmost baflle plate 49 and the secondleft-handmost baffle plate 53 will force the air and hydrocarbonvaporsto repeatedly change direction; and the rest of the baffle plates 49 and53 will force the air and hydrocarbon vapors to change direction againand again. In addition, each of the baffle plates 49 and 53 will, addheat to the air and the hydrocarbon vapors,

As the air and hydrocarbon vapors pass through the interstices of thescreens 50, they will receive additional 6 heat. Moreover, the screenswill interact with the hydrocarbon vapors to foster the destructivedistillation of the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors.

All of this means that the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors will, as theypass through the openings in the baffle plates 49 and 53 and through theinterstices of the screens 50, experience destructive distillation. Thatdestructive distillation will form a coke-like residue which will cometo rest upon the surfaces of the baffle plates 49 and 53 and of thescreens 50, and upon the inner surfaces of the rings 48, of the base 34,and of the closure 52. That destructive distillation also will formvolatile fractions; and those volatile fractions will pass outwardlythrough the tubing fitting 58, and then through the length 64 of tubing,the valve 66, and the length 68 of tubing into the intake manifold 14 ofthe engine. Those volatile fractions will mix with the fuel for theengine and will largely be burned with that fuel. In this way, thevapors which are drawn from the valve cover 12 will be substantiallyconverted to volatile fractions or coke-like residue; and the coke-likeresidue will largely come to rest within the vapor-removing device 32and the volatile fractions will largely be burned as they pass throughthe internal combustion engine 10. In this way, the vaporremoving deviceprovided by the present invention minimizes the emission of undesirablehydrocarbon vapors.

The coke-like residue which is deposited upon the baffle plates 49 and53, upon the screens 50 and upon the inner surfaces of the rings 48, ofthe base 34, and of the closure 52 will eventually reduce the ability ofthe vapor-removing device 32 to permit vapors to flow through it withoutunduly impeding that flow. However, the vapor-removing device 32 is madeso it is inexpensive and canthus be discarded and replaced by a freshvaporremoving device.

The screens 50 are very helpful during those periods when the engine 10is being started. During those periods, the exhaust manifold 20 will nothave reached its normal operating temperature; and hence the heat fromthat manifold will be unable to heat the vapor-removing device 32 to itsnormal operating temperature. Yet, the vapor-removing device 32 will beable to cause destructive distillation of the undesirable hydrocarbonvapors passing through it, because the screens 50 will have a catalyticaction on those vapors and will cause them to experience destructivedistillation at relatively low temperatures. The catalytic action of thescreens 50 will be even more effective after the exhaust manifold 20 hasreached its normal operating temperature and has raised the' temperatureofthe vapor-removing device 32 to its normal level; but that catalyticaction is important during those periods when the internal combustionengine 10 is being started.

If desired, the right-hand face of the base 34 and the left-hand face ofthe closure 52, as that base and enclosure are viewed in FIG. 2, couldbe provided with ridges, ribs, projections, or the like. Those ridges,ribs, projections, or the like would increase the exposed surfacearea-of that base and of that closure, and would thereby increase therate at which the vapor-removing device could heat the vaporspassingthrough it. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the numeral 74 denotesthe exhaust manifold of another internal combustion engine. That exhaustmanifold has openings 76 through it, and those openings are indicated bysolid lines in FIGS. 5 and '6; and those openings will be suitablythreaded.

The numeral 78 denotes a heat-exchanging block; and that block has asurface 80 which is complementary to a. portion of the surface of theexhaust manifold 74. Passages 82 are provided in the heat-exchangingblock .78; and those passages are located so they can be set in registerwith the threaded openings 76 in the exhaust manifold 74. The passages82 have enlarged-diameter outer ends. Threaded sockets 84 also areprovided in the heat-exchanging block 78; and those sockets are spacedfrom the passages 82. Cap screws 86 extend through the passages 82, andthe shanks of those cap screws seat in the threaded openings 76 in theexhaust manifold 74. Those cap screws will hold the heat-exchangingblock 78 in intimate, heat-exchanging relationship with the exhaustmanifold 74.

The numeral 88 generally denotes a second embodiment of vapor-removingdevice that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings ofthe present invention. The vapor-removing device includes a cup-shapedmember 90- which has a threaded nipple extending upwardly from theclosed end thereof. A cup-shaped baffle 92 is disposed within thecup-shaped member 90; and struts 94 at the lower edge of that baflleextend to, and are suitably secured to, the inner surface of thecup-shaped member 90. Those struts may be welded, brazed or otherwisesecured to the inner surface of the cup-shaped member 90. An inlet tube96 is secured to an annular plate 98; and that plate is telescopedwithin, and constitutes a closure for, the lower end of the cup-shapedmember 90. The lower end of the inlet tube 96 is threaded; and the upperend of that inlet tube extends into, and is directed toward, the closedend of the cup-shaped bafile 92. A strap 100 is suitably secured to theouter surface of the cup-shaped member 90; and the ends "of that strapproject outwardly beyond the sides of that member. Openings 102 areprovided in the projecting ends of the strap 100, and those openings arein register with the threaded sockets 84 in the heat-exchanging member78. Machine screws 104 have the shanks thereof extending through theopenings 102 in the projecting ends of the strap 100 and seated in thethreaded sockets 84 in the heat-exchanging block 78 to hold thevapor-removing device 8 8 in engagement with the heat-exchanging block.The right-hand surface of the heat-exchanging block 78 is madecomplementary to the left-hand surface of the cup-shaped member 90', asthat block and member are viewed in FIG. 6; and hence there will be anintimate, heat-exchanging relationship between the heat-exchanging blockand the vapor-removing device.

A length 106 of tubing is connected to the threaded nipple at the closedend of the cup-shaped member 90 by a tfitting 108; and that length oftubing extends to a valve such as the valve 66 in FIG. 1. A length 110of tubing is secured to the threaded end of the inlet tube 96 by afitting 112, and that length of tubing extends to a fitting 112, andthat length of tubing extends to a fitting such as the fitting 62 inFIG. 1.

During the operation of the internal combustion engine, with which thevapor-removing device of FIGS. and 6 is associated, a reduced pressurewill be established in the intake manifold of that engine; and thatreduced pressure will cause air and hydrocarbon vapors to pass from thevalve cover of that engine, thnough the length 110 of tubing, andthrough the inlet tube 96 to the interior of the cup-shaped baffle 92.The air and hydrocarbon vapors will have to reverse direction and movedownwardly below the lower edge of that bafile, and then turn and againchange direction to move upwardly toward the threaded nipple at theupper end of the cup shaped member 90. Finally, the air and any volatilefractions of the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors will pass through thelength 106 of tubing to the valve, and thence to the intake manifold ofthe engine.

Heat from the exhaust manifold of the engine will be transferred toheat-exchanging block 78 and thence to vapor-removing device 88; andbaffle 92 and member 90 of that vapor-removing device will become hotenough to cause destructive distillation of the undesirable hydrocarbonvapors passing through the device. That destructive distillation willproduce a coke-like residue plus volatile fractions; and that coke-likeresidue will settle upon the surfaces of the b afiie 92 and upon theinner surface of member 90, while those volatile fractions will passoutwardly through the threaded nipple at the upper end of member andpass to the intake manifold of the engine. Those volatile fractions willbe largely consumed as they pass through the engine and will thus beconverted to products of combustion. The coke-like residue from thedestructive distillation of the undesirable hydrooanbon vapors willeventually accumulate within the vapor-removing device 88 to an undueextent; and, at such time, the said vapor-removing device will beremoved and discarded, and a fresh vapor-removing device 88 will besecured to the heat-exchanging block 78 by the machine screws 104.

The vapor-removing device 88 of FIGS. 5 and 6 will not provide thecatalytic action which is provided by the screens 50 of thevapor-removing device 32 of FIGS. 2 and 3. However, the vapor-removingdevices 88 of FIGS. 5 and 6 is less expensive than the vapor-removingdevice 32 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 in detail, the numeral denotes the exhaustmanifold of still another internal combustion engine; and a threadedopening 122 is provided in the wall of that exhaust manifold. Thenumeral 124 denotes another preferred form of vapor-removing device thatis made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the presentinvention. That vapor-removing device has a base 126 with a probe 128thereon; and that probe extends through the threaded opening 122 in theexhaust manifold 120 and lies in the path of the products of combustionpassing through that exhaust manifold. That probe has a helical thread130 thereon; and that thread .mates with the thread in the opening 122.The engagement between the helical thread 130 on the probe 128 and thethread in the opening 122 will be sufficiently intimate to hold thevapor-removing device 124 solidly in position relative to theexhaust-manifold 120', and also to minimize the escape of products ofcombustion through the opening 122. An annular shoulder 132 is providedon the base 126, adjacent the right-hand face of that base; and anL-shaped passage 134 is formed in that base. One end of that passageextends to the periphery of that base, while the other end of thatpassage extends to the righthand face of that base, as that base isviewed in FIG. 7.

A sleeve 136 telescopes over the annular shoulder 132 on the base 126,and that sleeve will be suitably sweated, welded or brazed to thatshoulder. A ring 48, which can be identical to the similarly-numberedring in FIG. 2, is telescoped within the sleeve 136 and abuts therighthand face of the base 126. A baffle plate 49, which can beidentical to the similarly-numbered bafile plate in FIG. 2, istelescoped within the sleeve 136 and can abut the right-hand face of thesaid ring 48. A further ring 48 is telescoped within the sleeve 136 andis set in abutting relation with the right-hand face of the baffle plate49. A bafiie plate 53, which can be identical to the similarly numberedbaffle plate in FIG. 2, is telescoped within the sleeve 136 and is setin abutting relation with the righthand face of the further ring 48.Additional rings 48 and additional baflle plates 49 and 53 arealternated and telescoped into the sleeve 136, as shown particularly byFIG. 7. A cylindrical cake 142, of material which catalytically fostersthe destructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors, also is telescopedwithin the sleeve 136; and a thick ring 138 abuts right-hand face ofthat cake. A closure 140 abuts the right-hand face of the thick ring138, and holds the rings 48 and 138, the bafile plates 49 and 53, andthe cake 142 in assembled relation within the sleeve 136. A threadedfi-tting is provided at the exterior of the closure 140, adjacent anopening at the center of that closure. As indicated particularly by FIG.8, the cake 142 has a large number of axially-extending passages throughit; and those passages are coaxial with the sleeve 136.

The vapor-removing device 124 of FIG. 7 largely resembles thevapor-removing device 32 of FIG. 2. Specifically, the vapor-removingdevice 124 and the vapor- 9. removing device 32 both utilize alternatedbaffle plates 49 and 53 plus a catalyst to foster the destructivedistillation of the hydrocarbon vapors introduced into thosevaporremoving devices. However, the vapor-removing device 124 differsfrom the vapor-removing device 32 in that the catalyst in thevapor-removing device 124 is in the form of a cake, whereas the catalystin the vapor-removing device 32 is in the form of screens. Further, thevapor-removing device 124 differs from the vapor-removing device 32 inthat it does not require a heat-exchanging block between itself and theexhaust manifold; and, instead, has a probe on the mase thereof whichextends into the exhaust manifold to directly absorb heat from the prod-;rclts of combustion passing through that exhaust mani- The portion ofthe passage 134 of the vapor-removing device 124, which extends to theperiphery of the base 126, will be connected to a length of tubing whichextends from the valve cover of an internal combustion engine. Thethreaded fitting at the exterior of the closure 140 of thevapor-removing device 124 will be connected to a length of tubing whichextends to the inlet port of a valve, such as the valve 66 in FIG. 1;and a further length of tubing will extend from the outlet port of thatvalve to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine. As aresult the reduced pressure, which the engine will develop and maintainwithin its intake manifold, will cause air and hydrocarbon vapors toenter the passage 134 and then pass successively through the openings inthe alternated baffle plates 49 and 53. That air and those hydrocarbonvapors will be heated as they move through the passage 134 and along thecircuitous path which they must follow in passing through the openingsin those baffle plates. Prior to, and after, the instant the heated airand the heated hydrocarbon vapors enter the axially-extending passagesin the cake 142 of catalytic material, the undesirable hydrocarbonvapors will experience destructive distillation. The resulting coke-likeresidue will tend to come to rest Within the passages in the cake 142 ofcatalytic material, and the volatile fractions will pass outwardlythrough the opening in the closure 140 and be drawn into the intakemanifold of the engine. Thereafter, those volatile fractions will bemixed with the fuel in that intake manifold, and will be drawn into thecylinders of the engine. The coke-like residue will eventually reducethe effective crosssections of the axially-extending passages throughthe cake 142 of catalytic material; but, "at such time, thevaporremoving device 124 will be bodily removed from its positionadjacent the exhaust manifold 120 and be replaced by a freshvapor-removing device 124.

In each of the vapor-removing devices provided by the present invention,the air and hydrocarbon vapors which are introduced into that devicewill be heated and will be forced to recurrently change direction. Asthose hydrocarbon vapors are heated and are recurrently forced to changedirection, the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors will experiencedestructive distillation and will produce a cokelike residue plusvolatile fractions. The coke-like residue will tend to come to restwithin the vapor-removing device, but the volatile fractions will tendto pass to theinlet manifold of the engine and thus be drawn into thecylinders of that engine. As a result, the intake valves of the engineand the valve in the connection between the valveoperating area and theintake manifold of the internal combustion engine will remainsubstantially free of deposits which could tend to interfere with theproper operation of those valves.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown anddescribed three preferred embodiments of the present invention, itshould be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the form of the invention without affecting the scopethereof.

What I claim is:

1. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion enginewhich has an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) surfaces which are disposed within said housing and which areinterposed between said inlet opening and said outlet opening,

(0) said surfaces being engageable by air and vapors passing from saidinlet opening to said outlet opening,

(d) some of said surfaces forcing said air and said vapors torecurrently change direction as they move from said inlet opening tosaid outlet opening,

(e) a heat-exchanging block that is securable to said exhaust manifoldof said internal combustion engine,

(f) said heat-exchanging block having a surface thereon which iscomplementary to a portion of said exhaust manifold of said internalcombustion engine so said heat-engaging block can be held in intimateheattransferring relation with said exhaust manifold,

(g) s-aid heat-exchanging block having a surface thereon which iscomplementary to a surface on said vapor-removing device so saidvapor-removing device and said heat-exchanging block can be held inintimate heat-transferring relation,

(h) said heat-exchanging block being adapted to absorb heat from saidexhaust manifold and to transfer said heat to said vapor-removingdevice,

(i) said vapor-removing device being adapted to respond to heat fromsaid heat-exchanging block to become heated and to act upon hydrocarbonvapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening to causesaid hydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, andthereby convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and tovolatile fractions, s

(i) said surfaces within said housing being adapted to receive and holdsaid coke-like residue,

(k) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening to said intake manifold of said internal combustionengine,

(1) other of said surfaces catalytically fostering said destructivedistillation of said hydrocarbon vapors,

and a I (m) insulation on said housing to limit the radiation of heatfrom said housing.

2. A vapor-removing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said surfacesare baflling surfaces, said bafiiing surfaces transferring heat tosaidair and vapors, said other baflling surfaces being aluminum screens,further of said baffling surfaces being discs-with openings adjaoent theperipheries thereof, still further of said baffling surfaces beingwashers, said discs and said washers being alternated so said openingsinsaiddiscs confront solid portions of said washers and so the openings insaid washers confront solid portions of said discs,

3. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion enginewhich has an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) surfaces which are disposed within said housing and which areinterposed between said inlet opening and said outlet opening,

(c) said surfaces being engageable by air and vapors passing from saidinlet opening to said outlet open- (d) some of said surfaces forcingsaid air and said vapors to recurrently change direction as they movefrom said inlet opening to said outlet opening,

(e) a heat-exchanging block that is securable to said exhaust manifoldof said internal combustion engine,

(f) said heat-exchanging block being adapted to absorb heat from saidexhaust manifold and to transfer said heat to said vapor-removingdevice,

(g) said vaporrremoving device being adapted to respond to heat fromsaid heat-exchanging block to become heated and to act upon hydrocarbonvapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening to causesaid hydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, andthereby convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and tovolatile fractions,

(h) said surfaces within said housing being adapted to receive and holdsaid coke-like residue,

(i) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening to said intake manifold of said internal combustionengine,

(1') other of said surfaces catalytically fostering said destructivedistillation of said hydrocarbon vapors, and

(k) insulation on said housing to limit the radiation of heat from saidhousing.

4. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion enginewhich has an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet open- (b) surfaceswhich are disposed within said housing and which are interposed betweensaid inlet opening and said outlet opening,

() said surfaces being engageable by air and vapors passing from saidinlet opening to said outlet opening,

(d) a heat-exchanging block that is securable to said exhaust manifoldof said internal combustion engine,

(c) said heat-exchanging block being adapted to absorb heat from saidexhaust manifold and to transfer said heat to said vapor-removingdevice,

(f) said vapor-removing device being adapted to respond to heat fromsaid heat-exchanging block to become heated and to act upon hydrocarbonvapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening to causesaid hydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, andthereby convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and tovolatile fractions,

(g) said surfaces within said housing being adapted to receive and holdsaid coke-like residue,

(h) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening to said intake manifold of said internal combustionengine.

5. A vapor-removing device as claimed in claim 4 wherein some of saidsurfaces catalytically fo-ster said destructive distillation of saidhydrocarbon vapors.

6. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engineand that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening. and an outlet opening,

(b) said vapor-removing device permitting air and vapors to enter saidinlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening, v

(c) said vapor-removing device being adapted to respond to heat fromsaid engine to become heated-and to act upon hydrocarbon vapors enteringsaid inlet opening and moving toward said outlet opening to cause saidhydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, and therebyconvert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatilefractions,

(d) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue,

(e) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening,

(f) baffles within said housing in the form of disks which have openingsadjacent the peripheries thereof, and

(g) further bafiies within said housing in the form of washers whichhave openings adjacent the centers thereof,

12 (h) said baffles and said further baflles being alternated to forcesaid air and said hydrocarbon vapors to recurrently change directionwithin said housing. 7. A vapor-removing device for use with an internalcombustion engine and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) said vapor-removing device permitting air and vapors to enter saidinlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening,

(c) said vapor-removing device being adapted to respond to heat fromsaid engine to become heated and to act upon hydrocarbon vapors enteringsaid inlet opening and moving toward said outlet opening to cause saidhydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, and therebyconvert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatilefractions,

(d) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue,

(e) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening,

(f) a catalyst in said housing that fosters the destructive distillationof said hydrocarbon vapors.

8. A vapor-removing device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said catalystis a cake with openings therein for the passage of air and hydrocarbonvapors therethrough.

9. A vapor-removing device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said catalystis a plurality of screens.

10. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engineand that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet open- (b) saidvapor-removing device permitting air and vapors to enter said inletopening and to move toward said outlet opening,

(c) said vapor-removing device being adapted to respond to heat fromsaid engine to become heated and to act upon hydrocarbon vapors enteringsaid inlet opening and moving toward said outlet opening to cause saidhydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, and therebyconvert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatilefractions,

(d) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue,

(c) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening,

(f) bafliing surfaces within said housing to force said air and saidhydrocarbon vapors to recurrently change direction within said housing,

(g) a catalyst in said housing that fosters the destructive distillationof said hydrocarbon vapors.

11. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion enginewhich has an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) said inlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication withan oil-confining portion of said internal combustion engine in whichhydrocarbon vapors will be found during operation of said internalcombustion engine,

(0) said outlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication withsaid intake manifold,

(d) surfaces which are disposed within said housing and which areinterposed between said inlet opening and said outlet opening,

(e) said surfaces being engageable by air and vapors passing from saidinlet opening to said outlet opening,

(f) some of said surfaces within said housing being catalysts which canrespond to heat to facilitate the destructive distillationof hydrocarbonvapors within said vapor-removing device, and

(g) said vapor-removing device being constructed and arranged to raisethe temperature of said some surfaces and of said hydrocarbon vapors tothe temperature at which said some surfaces can facilitate thedestructive distillation of said hydrocarbon vapors,

(h) said some surfaces within said housing receiving air and vaporsentering said housing through said inlet opening and responding to heatfrom said vaporremoving device to cause hydrocarbon vapors in said airand vapors to experience destructive distillation and thereby convertsaid hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatilefractions,

(i) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue andthereby keep said coke-like residue from passing to said intakemanifold,

(j) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening to said intake manifold of said internal combustionengine,

(k) said housing and said surfaces permitting a substantially continuousflow of gases and vapors from said oil-confining portion of said enginewhile substantially continuously removing from said gases and vapors,and holding within said housing, a coke-like residue.

12. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engineand that comprises:

(a) .a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) said inlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication withan oil-confining portion of said internal combustion engine in whichhydrocarbon vapors will be found during operation of said internalcombustion engine,

() said outlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication withthe intake manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(d) said vapor-removing device permitting air and vapors to enter saidinlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening,

(e) said vapor-removing device having a catalyst therein that canrespond to heat from said vapor-removing device to facilitate thedestructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors in said air and vaporswhich enter said inlet opening of said housing,

(f) said vapor-removing device becoming heated to heat said catalyst andsaid air and said vapors entering said inlet opening of said housing andthereby enable said catalyst to facilitate the destructive distillationof said hydrocarbon vapors and thus convert said hydrocarbon vapors to acoke-like residue and to volatile fractions,

(g) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue andthereby keep said coke-like residue from passing to said intakemanifold,

(h) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening and to pass to said intake manifold,

(i) said vapor-removing device permitting a substantially continuousflow of gases and vapors from said oil-confining portion of said enginewhile substantially continuously removing from said gases and vapors,and holding within said housing, a coke-like residue.

13. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engineand that comprises:

(a) a housing with 'an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) said inlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication withan oil-confining portion of said internal combustion engine in whichhydrocarbon vapors will be found during operation of said internalcombustion engine,

(0) said outlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication withthe intake manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(d) said vapor-removing device permitting air and vapors to enter saidinlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening,

(c) said vapor-removing device having a catalyst therein that canrespond to heat from said vapor-removing device to facilitate thedestructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors in said air and vaporswhich enter said inlet opening of said housing,

(f) said vapor-removing device becoming heated to heat said catalyst andsaid air and said vapors entering said inlet opening of said housing andthereby enable said catalyst to facilitate the destructive distillationof said hydrocarbon vapors and thus convert said hydrocarbon vapors to acoke-like residue and to volatile fractions,

(g) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue andthereby keep said coke-like residue from passing to said intakemanifold,

(h) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening and to pass to said intake manifold,

(i) said vapor-removing device permitting a substantially continuousflow of gases and vapors from said oil-confining portion of said enginewhile substantially continuously removing from said gases and vapors,and holding within said housing, a coke-like residue, and

(j) bafliing surfaces within said housing to force said air and vaporsto recurrently change direction within said housing,

(k) said bafiiing surfaces facilitating the heating of said air andvapors by said housing.

14. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engineand that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) said inlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication withan oil-confining portion of said internal combustion engine in whichhydrocarbon vapors will be found during operation of said internalcombustion engine,

(0) said outlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication withthe intake manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(d) said vapor-removing device permitting air an vapors to enter saidinlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening,

(e) said vapor-removing device having a catalyst therein that canrespond to heat from said vapor-removing device to facilitate thedestructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors in said air and vaporswhich enter said inlet opening of said housing,

(f) said vapor-removing device becoming heated to heat said catalyst andsaid air and said vapors entering said inlet opening of said housing andthereby enable said catalyst to facilitate the destructive distillationof said hydrocarbon vapors and thus convert said hydrocarbon vapors to acoke-like residue and to volatile fractions,

(g) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue andthereby keep said coke-like residue from passing to said intakemanifold,

(h) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through saidoutlet opening and to pass to said intake manifold,

(i) said vapor-removing device permitting a substantially continuousflow of gases and vapors from said oil-confining portion of said enginewhile substantially removing from said gases and vapors, and holdingwithin said housing, a coke-like residue, and

(j) a probe on said housing that extends into a highlyheated portion ofsaid internal combustion engine,

(k) said probe being directly contacted and heated by the product ofcombustion of said internal combustion engine and transmitting heat tosaid housing.

(References on following page) 15 16 Reierences Cited by the ExaminerFOREIGN PATENTS 113501079 8/1920 Mulkern 123-119 MARK NEWMAN, PrimaryExaminer, 1,524,540 1/1925 Dawby 123-419 5 1,532,638 4/1925 Rodgers 123119 KARL ALBRECHT, Emmmer- 1,608,018 11/1926 Eldred 19 AL L. SMITH,Assistant Examiner.

7. A VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICE FOR USE WITH AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINEAND THAT COMPRISES: (A) A HOUSING WITH AN INLET OPENING AND AN OUTLETOPENING, (B) SAID VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICE PERMITTING AIR AND VAPORS TOENTER SAID INLET OPENING AND TO MOVE TOWARD SAID OUTLET OPENING, (C)SAID VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICE BEING ADAPTED TO RESPOND TO HEAT FROM SAIDENGINE TO BECOME HEATED AND TO ACT UPON HYDROCARBON VAPORS ENTERING SAIDINLET OPENING AND MOVING TOWARD SAID OUTLET OPENING TO CAUSE SAIDHYDROCARBON VAPORS TO EXPERIENCE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION, AND THEREBYCONVERT SAID HYDROCARBON VAPORS TO A COKE-LIKE RESIDUE AND TO VOLATILEFRACTIONS, (D) SAID HOUSING BEING ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID COKE-LIKERESIDUE, (E) SAID VOLATILE FRACTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO PASS OUTWARDLYTHROUGH SAID OUTLET OPENING, (F) A CATALYST IN SAID HOUSING THAT FOSTERSTHE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF SAID HYDROCARBON VAPORS.